CLS - Traditional Additional Student Policies
Student Success
Students should be mentally and physically prepared to cope with a rigorous curriculum in laboratory sciences. Students should carefully organize their activities in order to succeed. The faculty fully expects that each student will devote no less than three hours per week for every academic credit hour they have enrolled for in the department. For example, a student taking twelve hours of course work will need to spend thirty-six hours per week studying! That’s a full-time job for anyone and students would be well-advised to consider it as such. Those unable to master the program in a healthy manner are encouraged to contact the Program of Assistance for Students (PAS) at (806) 743-1327 or make an arrangement for counseling through the Office of Student Services (806) 743-2300. The department also works with students to develop remediation plans designed to supplement knowledge or skill areas.The faculty and staff truly want you to succeed. There is no greater satisfaction to the faculty and staff than to hear about the excellent contributions made by our graduates. While we recognize the rigor (and, in fact, foster it), we know a well-earned degree is far more valuable than a token degree from a less challenging program.
Academic Advising
Each student will meet with their academic advisor as stated in the advising syllabus provided on the first day of class. Additional meetings with a student’s academic advisor will be scheduled on an as needed basis. The student's responsibilities as an advisee in the advising process are:- To give thoughtful consideration to personal career goals so that academic and professional goals can be coordinated and discussed with advisor (or other faculty member) as appropriate.
- Schedule appointments and/or contacts during each semester
- Come to appointments on time and prepared
- Accept responsibility for your decisions and actions
- Be open to developing and clarifying your personal values and goals
Student Counseling
In the event that the Clinical Education Coordinator and/or Clinical Instructor deems an event necessary of disciplinary action, a Student Counseling Report must be completed and signed by the student, Clinical Instructor, and Clinical Education Coordinator. The original is forwarded to the university and the Education Coordinator retains a copy. The following are examples of events that would require counseling: tardiness, unexcused absences, demonstration of poor professionalism, retake of an exam, and poor didactic/preceptorship application.
Course Loads and Additional Course Work Policy
Students will not be allowed to do outside course work during scheduled class lecture, lab, or preceptorship hours without the permission of the Program Director. A student must have permission of the Program Director each and every semester to be concurrently enrolled in another program or course in this institution or any other institution.Student Employment Policy
Students often work outside of class time. In this capacity you are an employee of the institution who hired you and have no affiliation with the Clinical Laboratory Science during work hours. We realize that such work may be essential in order to meet financial obligations. However, IN NO CASE SHOULD THE WORK TIME BE SCHEDULED SUCH THAT IT WILL INTERFERE WITH YOUR EDUCATION . This also includes the amount of time you work. There will be no latitude given by the program or any instructor for you to leave class or laboratory early or to miss classes or exams to meet an outside work schedule. Students are STRONGLY encouraged NOT to exceed more than 20 hours per week during the CLS program. Clinical Laboratory Science Student Association (CLSSA). The purpose of the CLSSA is to promote professionalism among students majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science to promote awareness of the CLS profession to other students, healthcare professionals, and the general public. The organizations provide services to the community by participating in various service projects (both on and off campus) throughout the year. Education outside the classroom, recruitment, and fund raising are other important activities in which this association participates.The officers of the CLSSA include a President, Vice President, Social Chair, Treasurer, and two Student Senators. A faculty advisor is appointed by the CLS Program Director. The officers for the 1st year students will be elected by their classmates during November of the first semester and will begin to serve in the elected positions in January of the first year until January of the 2nd year. Two professional organizations, the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) and the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), encourage student memberships. These organizations are dedicated to representing laboratory personnel and advancing their interests through advocacy, standards setting, education, professional, and personal development. CLS students are encouraged to join the ASCLS with a student membership. Visit https://www.ascls.org/ to join and learn more about member benefits. The ASCP student membership is complimentary for students who are currently enrolled in an accredited laboratory science program and intend to meet the ASCP Board of Certification eligibility requirements for certification. Visit https://www.ascp.org/content/ to learn more about membership benefits.Students may conduct research projects as part of their academic curriculum. Such research must be relevant to the student’s program of study. The research projects are intended to acquaint the students with proposal development, research design, ethics, identification of resources, and compliance with applicable TTUHSC policies and procedures. All research projects will have faculty supervision. The Program Director will be responsible for the review and approval of all student research project proposals. A faculty member will be designated as the Principal Investigator, PI. It is expected the PI and students will strive to produce a research project that is worthy of consideration for publication and/or public presentation.The laboratory manager and faculty members will determine and implement the proper procedures for the use of all equipment (including computers) and supplies in the laboratories, as well as the amount of supervision needed for the students. This applies to teaching and research. Students will use only equipment and supplies entrusted to them, and those needed for class assignments, research purposes, or clinical practice.No equipment or supplies may be used by a student without prior approval and instruction from the faculty.Any equipment used will be returned to its designated location in clean, sanitary, and good working condition. It is the student's responsibility to learn the proper use of the equipment and take the initiative to report equipment malfunctions. Loss, abuse, theft, or suspected theft of equipment or supplies should be reported to the faculty immediately.Use of departmental equipment by students is confined to TTUHSC with one exception; removal of departmental equipment may be allowed when it's use is related to official class operations and activities. This removal may be conducted only after express permission is granted by the Program Director and in accordance with the TTUHSC Operating Policy (HSC OP 61.01).The student will be held financially responsible for the entire replacement cost of the items(s) in the event of damage, loss, or theft. Students will not remove any program equipment from university facilities for personal use.
